Political commentary from the LA Times

Gabrielle Giffords first photos from her hospital room

January 11, 2011 | 8:00
pm

Due to the overwhelming sympathetic response from the public following the near-fatal shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson on Saturday, her office tonight released two photos from her hospital room in the University Medical Center.

Given the severity of her head injuries, neither picture shows the face of the congresswoman, who is breathing on her own now. Doctors issued a promising prognosis for her recovery on Tuesday.

The first new photo shows her left hand being held by her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly.

Click on the photo to enlarge. To see other photos, click Continue Reading here ...

The other newly released photo shows Kelly sitting by his wife's bedside, holding her hand.

A photo from last week shows Giffords taking the ceremonial oath of office for the 112th Congress with new House Speaker John Boehner.